Seoul Metropolitan City on Wednesday said it has requested a budget increase from the central government for its project to register the Pungnap Earthen Fortress in Songpa-gu, eastern Seoul, on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Seoul says that in order to finish relocating and offering compensation to residents at the site of the early-Baekje royal castle by the target year 2020, the annual state budget of 35 billion won ($31 million) should be increased to at least 70 billion won.
Seoul City has been moving to compensate and relocate the residents residing inside the fortress site, which has become a residential area despite being designated as Historic Site No. 11 in 1963.
Due to poor preservation of the site and compensation delays, debate persists in the region over the city’s move to register it with UNESCO.
From news reports
